Trump makes corruption great again
This is the first of a 4-year long series.
Buried in Donald Trump’s rescission of dozens of Biden administration executive orders, the president has reversed a rule that thwarted the power of lobbyists in Washington.Biden’s Executive Order 13989, titled “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,” required members of the executive branch to sign an ethics pledge stating they would not receive gifts from lobbyists or lobbying organizations.
The Biden-era pledge also included several clauses related to a “revolving door ban,” which prohibited all employees entering the government from working with regulations and contracts related to their former employer or former clients for a period of two years from their appointment.
...
Under Trump, it will be legal to bribe politicians again, the revolving door of Washington will continue to swing, and calls to “drain the swamp” will fade into nothing more than a dull murmur.
Then there is this one.
Last week, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13957, creating a new class of federal employees within the civil service. This executive order could make it easier to retaliate against and eventually fire individuals who have been critical of the president.The executive order claims the executive order is designed to help give federal agencies the flexibility they need to quickly hire necessary policy staff, as well as to fire underperforming employees without going through the normal appeals process. However, the executive order appears to be just another attack by this administration on federal employees and unions, and a means of installing loyalists within the government, undermining the merit-based civil service and whistleblower protections for many. The result may be a less effective federal government and more corruption.
In a related note, Trump is also making health care unaffordable again.
Among the dozens of Biden-era executive orders he rescinded on day one, President Trump nixed one that aimed to explore new health care payment models that would lower prescription costs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.Trump rescinded former President Biden’s Executive Order 14087, “Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans.” He included this directive among those he deemed to be “unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices.”
Who needs affordable health care, amirite?
Within his first 48 hours back in office, Trump has signed several executive orders that threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans.Amid a flurry of executive orders, some of which were signed live on TV on inauguration night, the US president issued several orders that repeal Biden-era directives that had expanded healthcare access and options for lower-income and middle-class Americans.
Those orders are expected to affect the medical insurance coverage for upwards of 20 million people in the US.
Trump didn't stop with just making things worse for Americans.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO)."Oooh, that's a big one," the newly inaugurated US president said as he approved the document after arriving back at the White House. It was one of dozens of executive actions he put his signature to on day one in office.
Comments
There is more than one way to screw in this light bulb
Shaking-up the status quo is the intent, IMO.
Shattering the bulb should not be left to EO's.
All of these issues could have been addressed by the
August bodies of the legislature. There is no effort
to change policy, left to their own cemented ways.
Continued failure is less of an option.
question everything
Another Executive Order!
Declassifying JFK, RFK and MLK assassination files:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/breaking-trump-signs-executive-...
So corrupt!
A good thing
which I will believe when I see it happen. Wonder how many excisions and deletions there will be in what, if anything, does eventually get released? Did the EO specify release in their entirety, with no excisions or deletions?
Mary Bennett
The EO states
"full and complete" release, of course with whatever redactions the Powerful People decide are necessary to
preserve national securitykeep blame from landing anywhere near them.https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declassification...
I too will only believe it when I see it- and probably not even then. There are a lot of oxen to be gored with these revelations, and some of 'em are certain to kick back...
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
@usefewersyllables Oh, by powerful
Oh, by powerful people, you mean such 'august' minds as Musk, Thiel, Bezos, the Sacklers and Mellons? Sounds more like a barf bag to me. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
I guess that makes everything equal then /s
More corruption
Not only that,
he hadn't pardoned a single family member!!!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
It's a damn shame that was necessary
Those were preemptive pardons. Not criminal pardons.
Except for Hunter, of course.
As opposed to Trump's 1,500 Jan 6 pardons, which included people convicted of trying to kill cops.
Money laundering and sex trafficking
aren’t criminal acts? Color me surprised. Lying to congress….hmmm.
Weird how you didn’t spend 4 long years covering all of Biden’s corruption. If you had you might have noticed the activities of the Biden crime family.
How do you know that they weren’t pre pardons for criminal acts?
Many of the J-6 were given long prison sentences for mischievous trespassing. And the trials were held in a huge dem center. There was a 100% conviction rate. Did you ever bother to read what people were sent to prison for? Many were threatened with long sentences because of added on charges. The Supremes took an axe to what prosecutors were doing.
One judge said it’s like raindrops. One drop adds to the whole storm. Meaning the lesser crimes made the worse crimes possible.
Some have been held in prison for 4 years without trial or being declared guilty.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
You're right
I didn't spend the last 4 years raging for every right-wing konspiracy theory. I tended to focus on things that can be proven. Like the list above.
Don't worry. I won't get too excited about Trump's obvious corruption. I have little hope that his failures will get blamed on anyone other than Democrats. Even when the economy crashes somehow it will be Biden's fault. Or Pelosi. Or Obama.
I don't particularly care anymore. Any empire that values opinions over facts is doomed. It's time to leave.
Well done
You ignored most of my comment and pretended that I said something I didn’t.
What I said was based on facts because I don’t believe any story without looking at the actual facts and don’t believe what the corporate media feeds me.
Is Trump corrupt? Absolutely. But so are democrats, but for some reason you give them a pass.
As for blaming who is responsible for the economy I blame mostly Clinton and Obama. Clinton set up the global economic collapse and Obama gave the banks that crashed it a pass.
Funny how every time republicans cut taxes that democrats don’t bother to raise them again don’t you think?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
You're right
I am an apologist for Democratic corruption. In fact, I'm guilty of money-laundering, sex trafficking, pedophilia, cannibalism, and human organ trafficking.
I refuse to argue with you. So whatever you accuse me of, now or in the future, you're right.
However, if you want to convince me of something you may want to try a different tactic.
A different tactic?
Like facts?
I tried them.
You ignored them.
And ignored addressing what I said.
That’s obvious. This is what you do when you post something that I or others disagree with you on. Seems kinda chicken sh*tty to me.
lol….if you thought that stopped since it started I have a wonderful bridge to sell you. I’m sure you have heard of AIPAC, the big pharma, defense and many other lobbies?
But sure they’re only happening because of Trump. Gee…zus.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I see the problem
you have no ability to see differences in levels of corruption and/or policy.
So you are complaining that I don't argue with you?
So it is better to pretend that
you can rank the "levels" of corruption? And it is just a matter of fact that one hand of the permanent government is "more" corrupt than the other?
It must be a hoot to be able to do that by assertion. It would be a lot more impressive if you explained how you come to your irrebuttable conclusion.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
You should read my post
Either you didn't read it, or you didn't understand it.
If the latter is true, then ask someone else because I don't have the energy.
OK
I'm cool with not conversing with you.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
I thought the J6 was an insurrection
for a few weeks, maybe a few months.
When I started seeing videos, learning of the fbi agent infiltrators, etc..., I changed my mind. A child hood acquaintance flew there from her home in East Texas, and she hoped to protest, get her man to stay in office. She was unarmed, was not arrested. She was lucky.
Pardons for crimes require an underlying criminal act. Nobody who doesn't need one gets one. That makes Fauci, as an example, admitting guilt.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Jan6 was caused by Antifa
At least that was what Trump said at the time. Funny how he pardoned Antifa.
How many Antifas
are still in prison?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
All of them
In this reality facts don’t matter.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
@gjohnsit That should go over
That should go over real big with the law-and-order rubes.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
While on the Trump Topic
I want to suggest names for the Teddy Roosevelt-style acquisitions being discussed.
The erstwhile Gulf of Mexico will be called The Trumpian Sea.
Canada, as the 51st state will become Trumpistan.
And the ice cold and glaciated Greenland will be known as Trumpsicle.
Personally, I ain't worried about this clown, because he is a clown. He won't be doing anything but what the permanent government wants him to do.
I do think it is a good idea to make fun of this member of the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame. Donald J Blowhard!
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Perhaps the take-away here
.
politicians at this level are obviously corrupt,
regardless of their stripe
question everything
Really getting seriously fed up with being
embarrassed for being an American. Of course, that started in late 1980 with the election of Raygun, the Fascist Gun in the West(and how!).
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
In my 18 years of international travel,
I identified myself as a Texan.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
that may work in texican
to the ROW you are an American.
Virginian or Michigander doesn't matter.
Like in the EU. It isn't about cultural divides.
Countries or states sign up to be a part of
the 'greater' whole. Texan means nothing to
Slovakia or Romania. On the global stage,
China and Russia are nation states. Not so much
subdivisions. Once you break from the federal union
you may be different. And I wish you would.
It may give other areas an incentive to do the same.
TX, AZ and NM would be a formidable group.
I can see CA, OR and WA doing the same.
Also see LA, MS, AL and GA aligning along the same lines.
question everything
Funny you should mention Slovakia and Romania.
Those people loved my cowgirl boots, talked about the Alamo, rodeos, stuff about Texas they had seen in movies. My boots have been to over 50 countries, just for that purpose.
It immediately broke the ice, talk veered away from US identity, went to country music, and hell, I line danced with my Romanian tour guide! He had lived in Houston for two years.
It worked in Asia, Africa, Eastern and western Europe, all over Central and South America.
Nothing worked in Paris. They are snots to anybody not from Paris.
Texas does toy with the idea of secession. Folk lore says it is within our pact with the US to secede at will, but supporting documents do not back it up.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Corruption
Are there clear examples of Trump corruption while in office? I don't care about private corruption; that's on the public officials that are supposed to police that. It seems to me with all the bogus cases brought against Trump, there wasn't a single case of public corruption or abusing his office for his personal benefit. The TDS here is breathtaking, particularly in light of his appointment of RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, declassification of JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations, and the absence of new wars started in Trump's first administration. Give the man a chance. He's off to a running start, fulfilling as many of his campaign promises as possible, as soon as possible. How is that not a good thing?
I have been thinking about
TDS, the problem with so-called leftists, the ones who never vote for universal healthcare, or increases in Social Security when in office.
Perhaps in their eyes, TDS describes his mental illness. I don't talk to them, haven't gotten their opinion. (I can't talk to them. Too frustrating.)
It does say worlds about Trump committing crimes while the 5-eyes missed it for 4 years.
Trump has done some very positive things since swearing in. Stupid mistakes: yes. Crude, un-Statesman like, yes.
However, compare his crudity to Biden's, he comes out cleaner. He never sniffed babies and young girls.
He blundered on the birthright illegal thingie. Very stupid, very ill-advised.
By the same token, I applaud the effort to get rid of illegals who are not trying to escape their countries due to rebellions and dangers.
I have had personal brushes with cartels.
I, we, don't have to give Trump a chance. Let's give him time, no need to give him the benefit of the doubt, as time will tell
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
TDS
TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome - means simply that the afflicted cannot bring themselves to utter a single positive thing about Trump and hate him unconditionally. It is widespread here. It is one thing to "not give him the benefit of the doubt;" it is quite another not to acknowledge a single positive act. I believe that there have already been several, which are utterly ignored on this site. I seem to recall many here supporting Tulsi and RFK, Jr. when they were Dems. Now they are a Russian asset and a kooky, antivaxxer, conspiracy theorist respectively.
A few people applauded Trump for
releasing the files. Maybe you missed it?
I haven’t seen one person saying that about either of them. I’m disappointed with Tulsi’s flip flop on spying, but I haven’t seen anyone denigrating Bobby.
Not sure what you’re seeing so can you provide some examples? Well maybe you just talking about gjohnsit?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Disagree
While some acknowledged that releasing the assassination files was O.K., NONE expressed any hopefulness or optimism, and all pretty uniformly dismissed it as symbolic and pointless.
I did not see a single commenter here in the last couple days praising the potential appointment of either Tulsi (Russian asset, placed on some sort of national security list) or RFK, Jr.(Anti-vaxxer, 17,000 doctors signed a letter opposing his appointment [that turned out to be fake, BTW]). They were both denigrated severely by the Dem establishment once they switched parties.
I have never been a Republican or voted for one in my entire life. While that may change in the future, I can say with much more confidence that I do not see myself ever voting for a Dem again, particularly in Washington State, where the party machinery screwed Bernie as hard as they could and are corrupt as the days are long in the summer (6:00 a.m to 9:30 p.m.).
No
But we covered her being placed on the list when it happened.
You seem to be painting us as agreeing with the dem establishment which most of us have mocked ceaselessly.
I don’t see much TDS here, but if you are seeing it you should be able to post where it happened.
No one in the comments to this essay has said any tds about him except for the author which I called out.
I bitch about both sides when they do things I despise. I was tuff on Biden and I’ll be just as tuff on Trump when he does stupid things. That’s bitching about his doing things for the oligarchs at the expense of we the people.
I’m just not seeing what you are accusing us of doing.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Tulsi needs to explain
her reversal on 702 very clearly.
RFK JR has been supported here, even after he switched his party/allegiance to trump.
There is little to no support of mRNA vaxxes.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Gotta eat dinner.
.Will respond.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Spending Our Money
Another thing, all of this grousing about "spending our money" for things that we do not believe benefit us is pretty naive and based on a flawed understanding of our financial system. The USA is in debt in excess of $40 TRILLION. It will never be paid back. The Federal Reserve is PRIVATE and not part of the US government. It is the USA's creditor. The money spent is merely digits created on computers and our tax revenues do not even make a dent in paying for all the money we have shipped out for foreign wars and aid. The interest on that debt (more than $1T/yr.) now exceeds all line items on the budget, including defense and Social Security. This system is coming to an end and the people behind Trump (white hat military/intelligence people) are in the process of bringing this system to and end -- after hundreds of years. I support that.
Me, too.
Me, too.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
@on the cusp O.K.,
O.K., Snoopydog
Post at least three comments in which there was anything positive about DT. Didn't happen. If you aren't the definition of a nihilist, I do not know who is, Consider that.
@on the cusp O.K.,
O.K., Snoopydog
Post at least three comments in which there was anything positive about DT. Didn't happen. If you aren't the definition of a nihilist, I do not know who is, Consider that.
I didn't make myself clear.
Trump is suffering from some derangement syndrome. Ask a Blue No matter Who. Not lefties going nuts about him due to their DS at the mere mention of his name. Ask a moderate or rightie.
If anyone on this site goes towards unreason, it is pointed out by the members.
Be a Free Ranger, BBC.
You are a Free Ranger. You do point out the what you clearly see.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Sorry
I have always been a "Free Ranger" and a free thinker.i believe I can say with supreme confidence that there has never been a pro-trump opinion expressed on this site without a cynical disclaimer calling it a useless "nothingburger." Am I wrong? Nihilism is not a solution or a positive philosophy.
I can't say one way or another
about pro-Trump comments always being contradicted or dismissed.
What I have seen of late is that a few of the members have some hope for some improvement on some things.
I like his immigration policies and believe they have a real chance to protect us from cartels. Still, calling in the military to patrol the border might lead to soldiers patrolling everywhere sort of normal. I think that birthright citizenship is a Constitutional guarantee, but the Supreme Court may agree with him.
I like the withdrawal from the WHO treaty with no caveats.
I like ending the gain of function bio-weapons labs. Period.
I like withdrawing from the Paris Climate treaty with only one caveat, that being, he might consider shoring up the EPA with any money saved.
I like the pause on sending money and weapons for Ukraine to do an audit.
I like the fact he gives a flying damn about East Palestine. (Maybe he might help Flint have drinking water again.)
None of the above makes me a MAGA. I trust exactly 3 politicians, one of which was pushed out of office by re-districting: Paul, Massie, and Kucinich.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
@on the cusp O.K. Disclaimer noted.
O.K. Disclaimer noted.
I believe Brimg Back Civics is correct
about nobody on this board posting anything positive about Trump. For me, I remain extremely hostile to his schtick even as I agree that virtually all of the Dem or "progressive" rhetoric about him is fraudulent, especially the Putin Puppet crap and the January 6 fantasy.
I agree with Caitlin Johnstone's assertion that the warm and fuzzy reaction to the attempts on his life as well as the universal acknowledgement that this election was honest both show clearly how the "existential threat" meme is insincere. She also pointed to some video showing Barack Obama and President Donald J. Blowhard chatting each other up this past week as proof of the real relationship between the parties -- two arms of the same power structure.
This thread overtly argues the opposite -- that there is a real ideological conflict going on with one player in the drama being uniquely corrupt. Not out of any positive take on Trump did I wade in above -- in my opinion, the most significant FACT of American politics today is the tacit agreement in Washington DC that financing wars in Ukraine and Palestine is a necessity.
OTOH, I would sincerely love to see good results, rather than just hot air coming from Trump. I just don't think he or any politician can get away with changing the national direction.
Picking between the two brands stamped on the packaging of these insane wars is what they want us to do.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Fair Enough
My big issue is the exposure of corruption. I believe that is imminent. It will only happen under T.
I would love to see
him accomplish that, and agree he is the only president in my adult life that even pays it lip service.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981